Lab Legends and Field Phantoms: The Tale of Virus-Resistant Plants.

Abstract

Plant viruses present significant challenges to global agriculture, causing crop losses, threatening food security, and imposing economic burdens. Advances in biotechnology have revolutionized strategies to attack these threats, with genetically modified and genome-edited virus-resistant plants, developed using precision tools such as RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas technology, playing pivotal roles. Despite these breakthroughs, fragmented regulatory frameworks and divergent policies across regions including the European Union and the Global South hinder the global adoption of such innovations. Multifaceted approaches, including gene pyramiding, microbiome-based strategies, and pathogen-targeted defenses, show promise for enhancing plant resilience. This review explores the biological, regulatory, and ethical dimensions of deploying virus-resistant crops, emphasizing the need for harmonization of international regulation to maximize biotechnological benefits. By addressing these challenges, biotechnology can advance sustainable agriculture, secure food systems, and mitigate the effect of plant viral diseases.